Flexible working request

[FurCoatNoNickers]

I'm posting here for my husband. He would like to put in a flexible working request, the main reason is due to our 11 year old daughter who has ASD. He's been working from home throughout the pandemic but his employer is now asking them all to come back into the office. He's worked there for over 20 yrs so qualifies for flexible working. Family life has been greatly improved with him working from home and we will need him to be at home when she goes off to school and when she gets home ( she will travelling in a taxi to her specialist school) how do we word the letter? Should we give reasons as to why he wants the flexible working? He doesn't want to change his hours, just wants to work from home rather than in the office. Grateful for guidance.

www.acas.org.uk/making-a-flexible-working-request
This will tell you how to make this request and what you need to put in it.

I'm not sure about detailing the the reasons you've mentioned as I read it that he'll be doing childcare during his working hours?

Good luck though :)

I really wouldn’t focus too much on why he wants to do it as it’s sounds like the employer would actually be losing out on dedicated working time from your husband. This might not be the case but it could come across like this.
You need to focus on why it is a positive thing for the company. If it isn’t he needs to identify potential issues and what can be put in place to mitigate these - from both a colleague and company perspective.
Also it might be worth looking at a compromise - set days wfh rather than all the time.

Definitely focus on why this is a good thing for the company rather than the childcare aspect.

They can use “doesn’t suit the needs of the business” as an excuse and they don’t need to justify so you really need to sell it to them.

How many days does his employer want him back in? Could he compromise and do half and half?

Remember that legally, they are required to consider, but they can refuse with a good reason, and that it doesn't suit the needs of the business would be enough to be considered an acceptable rejection (although would need to justify these needs in court).

He would be better off speaking to his boss, explaining how working from home has really helped from a caring perspective, explain how it does without impacting his performance, and see whether they'd agree some form of arrangement. They might agree on some days rather than all. He needs to consider that he might not be the only one making that request.

@FurCoatNoNickers

I'm posting here for my husband. He would like to put in a flexible working request, the main reason is due to our 11 year old daughter who has ASD. He's been working from home throughout the pandemic but his employer is now asking them all to come back into the office. He's worked there for over 20 yrs so qualifies for flexible working. Family life has been greatly improved with him working from home and we will need him to be at home when she goes off to school and when she gets home ( she will travelling in a taxi to her specialist school) how do we word the letter? Should we give reasons as to why he wants the flexible working? He doesn't want to change his hours, just wants to work from home rather than in the office. Grateful for guidance.

His reasons for wanting the flexible working are not relevant to the business. Anybody is entitled to put in a flexible working request, it could be to play more tennis. The request doesn’t need to cover that as the employer should not be factoring how “worthy” the reason for the request is anyway.

In the request as well as clearly stating what is being asked for he should identify any impacts to the business and how these will be managed. Ideally he will also be able to identify some benefits (to the business).

Isn't this covered under equality legislation? The fact that you have caring duties for a disabled child does make a difference I think, reasonable adjustments type thing?

Has his company got a flex work policy make sure he reads it through

The reasons are irrelevant really as pp have said everyone is entitled to make the request

It may be the policy hasnt been ammended to change primary place of work and is still based on hours so may need to check this aspect with HR

Is there any further flexibility he can offer to his employer like wfh 3 or 4 days office the other days?

@smackeroonies

Isn't this covered under equality legislation? The fact that you have caring duties for a disabled child does make a difference I think, reasonable adjustments type thing?

No, it isn’t. Employers do not have to make reasonable adjustments for carers.

And even if they did, considering the OP wants to work the same hours, they would effectively be asking to WFH so they can provide care and work at the same time. This would not be a reasonable request.